Yeah its a major stumbling block for us at any rate. A lot on that front depends on whether we sell Paulinho and/or Dembele, and how much we get if we do.
I don't think that Schneiderlin offers us much that we can't get from either Sandro or Capoue, anyway. He's a good player, but we've already got a lot of options in his position, some of which are very similar to him. Not something that we particularly need to focus on, in my opinion.
Looks like you've beaten us to Davies by promising first team footie. What a bullet dodged. Thanks guys
I would also find his signing pointless. We may as well scrap the youth academy if we're going to sign players like Scheiderlin when already over loaded in midfield and we have young players looking for a chance.
Haven't seen enough of him to object, but it's definitely a position that we both need to strengthen. Rose and Assou-Ekotto both had poor seasons and Vertonghen was all over the place in that role, plus he went into a strop whenever he was played there. Enrique was crocked and/or crap, Sissoko was awful and on loan and Flanagan's a right-back who's probably already better than Johnson there. Why do transfers to Liverpool always have to fail because the other club did something different, by the way? Seems to be a myth that everyone else offers more money, gives the player a higher priority or does something underhand, rather than anything normal. I've yet to see anything that suggests that anyone other than Spurs agreed a deal with Swansea.
Fair shouts on Schneiderlin guys. I personally like him and think he offers more on the ball than either Sandro and Capoue and thats why I'd like him to play that deeper role potentially alongside one of them rather than Paulinho or Dembele, but disagreements are what makes this place I certainly wouldn't want to be bringing in a player in that position if we didn't offload a couple to make room. I totally get what you're saying re. the youth issue though, because we have a number of promising players there who need chances to play and improve. If we sold 2 and bought 1 then thats an extra place for a Carroll or Bentaleb to shine I guess...but then again it might send out the wrong message to bring in further competition. Balance, as ever, needs to be struck
Schneiderlin isn't better than what we've already got in my opinion, I hope Poch realises this. The only problem we have with the ones we have got is that both Sandro and Capoue had lengthy injuries between them last season and it's not the first time Sandro has missed a number of games, so questions remain about his/ their fitness may rise. When both are fit, Schneiderlin wouldn't get a look in. Good player though but certainly not "£20m, better than Sandro & Capoue" good.
Your comment seems predictably bitter and displays typical glory supporting arrogance, these days plenty of players will choose Spurs over Liverpool and the time when Liverpool was the club all players wanted to join has long since been and gone. (for good) Diverpool still may sign Davies, wonder what your opinion will be if that happens.
Don't get me wrong he Is a decent player for saints. Just we keep signing these midfielders such as Holtby, Dembele, Capoue, Paulinho who while each have different attributes, in terms of ability flatter to deceive so if we're going to bring in another midfielder (even with trimming the squad) I would rather we aim higher or give Bentaleb a more prominent role while allowing Carroll and Pritchard to stake a claim and show if they can have a future.
I completely take your points. The one difference is that Poch knows this player and the majority of Southampton fans seem to hold him in very high regard too. Although he's a bit of an unknown quantity to us the coaches know him well. Though it could well be that with Poch, and his propensity for youth, that he pushes Bentaleb and Carroll forward in the pecking order.
Don't worry Billy, they signed Kevin Stewart on a free after we released him, they're all good at LB now mate.
All these players are very similar now. The only issue is which one of them are going to turn into a real star and which is going to turn into a hopeless case. If we keep or buy the former and sell the latter that is an great outcome
